Speed regulating circuit for generators



1954 M. w. HORRELL 2,685,670

SPEED REGULATING CIRCUIT FOR GENERATORS Filed May 15, 1950 INVENTOR.

MAUR/CE w. HORRELL BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED STATE$ ATENT OFFICE SPEED REGULATING CIRCUIT FOR GENERATORS Application May 15, 1950, Serial No. 162,029

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electrical circuits for regulating the speed of an alternator and more particularly to electrical circuits for providing a sensitive control to maintain the speed of an alternator substantially constant. The invention utilizes the phase shift of a control voltage to maintain a substantially constant alternator speed.

In many applications, an alternator, such as an induction generator, is used as a power source to supply an alternating voltage for the operation of various components. In such applications, the frequency of the voltage supplied by the alternator may change for various reasons, such as changes in the load imposed upon the motor which drives the alternator or changes in the excitation of the motor field windings. Often, however, it is important to maintain the frequency of the supply voltage substantially constant.

This invention provides circuits for regulating the speed of an alternator so that the frequency of the voltage from the alternator will be substantially constant. The invention employs an inductance and capacitance which are resonant at the desired frequency. The current through the inductance and capacitance varies in time phase as the speed of the alternator changes from the desired value and this shift in phase is employed to vary the conduction period of a thyratron tube. the thyratron tube, the current through the field winding of the motor which drives the alternator is varied so as to return the motor to the desired speed.

An object of this invention is to provide electrical circuits for regulating the speed of an alternator.

Another object is to provide electrical circuits of the above indicated character for sensitively controlling the speed of an alternator.

A further object is to provide a circuit of the above indicated character for returning an alternator to a predetermined speed quickly, efficiently and with a minimum amount of hunting whenever the speed of the alternator varies from the desired value.

Still another object is to provide a circuit of the above indicated character for maintaining the speed of an alternator constant by varying the phase of a control voltage.

A still further object is to provide a circuit of the above indicated character for maintaining the speed of an alternator constant regardless of any changes in the voltage applied to the motor which drives the alternator.

By varying the conduction period of Other objects and advantages of the invention the invention and from the appended drawings and claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates by vectors and waveforms the phase relationships of various voltages and currents in the circuit shown in Figure 1 when the alternator has the desired speed;

Figure 3 illustrates by vectors and waveforms the phase relationships of the voltages and currents illustrated in Figure 2 when the alternator has a speed below the desired value;

Figure 4 illustrates by vectors and waveforms he phase relationships of the voltages and oureiits illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 when the alternator has a speed above the desired value; and

rigure 5 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of the invention.

in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, an alternator, such as an induction genorator it, is provided. The generator 10 has a notched rotor H and a stator [2, on which is wound a balanced field winding i3 and an output winding i i. The field winding 13 is connected through a ballast lamp it to ground, the lamp i5 providing a rough control for regulating the current through the winding. The winding is supplied with direct voltage from a suitable power supply, such as a battery it, the negative terminal of which is grounded. In addition to being connected to the field winding 53, the battery [5 is connected to the rotor H of a suitable motor, such as a shunt motor, one side or the rotor being grounded. A field winding 28 of the shunt motor is also connected to the positive terminal of the battery H6.

The output winding i i of the induction generator it is connected at one side to a capacitance l9 and is grounded at the other side. One side of an autotransiormer 2c connected at a terminal 2i to the capacitance it and the other side of the autotransformer is connected at a terminal 22 to a capacitance '23. The autotransiormer is grounded at an intermediate terminal 24, which is so located in the autotransformer as to provide a relatively small voltage, designated as 80, between the terminals 22- and 22 as compared to the voltage, designated as 61), between the terminals 2i and 25. An inductance 25 is connected at a terminal 26 to the capacitance 23 and is-grounded at the other end.

The control grid of a thyratron tube 23, which serves as a switch and an amplifier, is connected through a resistance as to the terminal 26. The resistance 29 isolates the inductance from the tube 28 and prevents the Q of the inductance i. e.; the ratio between the reactance of the inductance and the effective resistance of the inductanca-from being materially affected when the tube 28 con-ducts. The cathode and shield grid of the thyratron tube are grounded and the plate is connected to a resistance 39, which limits the peak current through the tube. A solenoid winding 32 is connected between the terminal 2! or" the autotransformer 20 and the resis ance 30. A capacitance 32 is provided across the solenoid winding to smooth the current through the winding, and a carbon pile regulator 33 is located in the field or the solenoid winding iii. The carbon pile regulator 33 has a plurality of discs 3 which are expansible relative to one another when actuated by the solenoid so as to increase the resistance of the regulator. carbon pile regulator is connected at one end to the field winding is of the shunt motor and is grounded at the other end.

The capacitance 23 and inductance 25 form a series resonant circuit when the induction rotor ll is rotating at the desired speed. At this speed, the current, designated as ig, which flows from the autotransformer it) through the capacitance 23 and inductance 25 is approximately in phase with the control voltage ec between the terminals 2% and 22 and is approximately 180 out of phase with respect to the voltage e between the terminals 24 and 2|. Since the current through an inductance lags the voltage across the inductance by 90, the voltage at the terminal 26, designated as e leads the voltage (2;) at the terminal 25 by approximately 90. This phase relationship between the voltages on the grid and plate of the tube 28 causes a current, designated as ip, to flow through the tube for approximately 90 of each alternating cycle. The current i when averaged over a complete cycle of alternating voltage by the capacitance 32, causes the discs 34 of the regulator 33 to expand through an intermediate distance relative to one another. The resultant resistance provided by the regulator 33 limits the current flowing through the field winding 18 to a value which maintains the rotor ll at the desired speed. The phase relationships between the currents and voltages described above are illustrated in Fig ure 2.

The phase relationships of the above voltages and currents are illustrated in Figure 3 when the alternator it is rotating below the desired speed.

t such speeds, the reactance of the capacitance 21:; exceeds the reactance of the inductance 25. This causes the current 2'; flowing through the capacitance 23 and the inductance 2 5 to lead by approximately 96 the voltage ec between the terminals 2 1 and 22. Since the voltage eg at the terminal 2% leads the current 2}; by approximately 90, the voltage c is approximately 180 out of phase with the voltage at the terminal 22 and therefore approximately in phase with the voltage a at the terminal 2!. This phase relationship between the voltages 6g and. 6 causes a current to fiow through the tube 23 for approximately 180 of each alternating cycle. The increase in the average current through the solenoid 3| produces an increase in the resistance of the carbon pile regulator 33 above the value which it has when the alternator is rotating at the desired speed. As a result, the

The v current through the field winding l8 decreases and the speed of the rotor ll, being inversely proportional to the excitation of the field winding 18, increases until the rotor is rotating at the desired speed.

When the frequency of the output voltage from the induction generator 10 is above the desired value, the reactance of the inductance 25 exceeds the reactance of the capacitance 23. This causes the current i flowing through the capacitance 23 and inductance 25 to lag the voltage 60 at the terminal 22 by approximately and therefore to lead the voltage e at the terminal 2! by approximately 90.

mately 90, producing approximately a phase shift between the voltages e and e As a result, substantially no current flows through thetube 23 and the resistance of the carbon pile regulator decreases. The increased current through the field winding l8 causes the speed of the rotor [7 to decrease until the desired speed has been reached.

Since the phase relationship between the voltages on the grid and plate of the tube 28 shifts by approximately 90 when the speed of the alternator increases or decreases from the desired value, asensitive control is provided for regulating the speed of the alternator. This sensitivity is further sharpened by the amplification pr vided by the tube 28. The regulation of the alternator speed does not require a critical adjustment of the carbon pile regulator 33 or any other member for proper operation. As a result of the above advantages, changes of as much as 20% in the voltage on the battery it or in the load on the alternator produce a variation of less than 1% in the speed of the alternator.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5. In this embodiment, the field winding l8 and an auxiliary field winding it are wound on the stator. The winding ii) is connected at one end to the resistance 30 and at the other end to the terminal 25. The capacitance 32 is provided in parallel with. the winding 42.

A relatively large amount of magnetic flux is produced by the current in the winding it. Thus, if magnetic flux were produced only by the wind- !8, the rotor would run below the desired speed. However, the current which flows through the winding it produces magnetic flux polarized to oppose the flux produced by the winding E8. The bucking action offered by the winding is intermediate when the rotor H is rotating at the proper speed and the resultant flux in the motor maintains the rotor speed constant. When the rotor i? is rotating at a speed below the desired value, the current through the winding it increases and causes the total flux in the motor to decrease. As a result, the motor speed increases. Likewise, when the rotor is running below the desired speed, the magnetic opposition of the winding 4i! decreases below the intermediate value and the total magnetic flux in the motor increases, causing the speed of the motor to decrease.

There are thus provided electrical circuits for sensitively controlling the speed of an alternator by varying the phase of a control voltage. The circuits maintain the speed of the alternator constant regardless of changes in circuit parameters, such as changes in power supply voltages.

Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular applications, the principles involved are susceptible of The voltage e at the termir nal 26 in turn leads the current ig by approxinumerous other applications which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: i

1. Apparatus for maintaining an alternator substantially at a predetermined. speed, including, means connected to the alternator to provide a voltage having a phase opposed to the phase of the alternator voltage, a resonant circuit, including an inductance and capacitance, connected. to the last-named means, the circuit being resonant at the predetermined speed and being adapted to provide a voltage having an instantaneous phase shift relative to the alternator voltage when the alternator speed varies from the desired value, and means associated with the resonant circuit for adjusting the speed of the alternator in accordance with the relative phase shift between the voltage from the resonant circuit and the voltage applied from the alternator.

2. Apparatus for maintaining an alternator substantially at a predetermined speed, including, a motor for driving the alternator, means connected to the alternator to provide a first voltage in phase with the voltage from the alternator and a second voltage having a phase opposed to the phase of the alternator voltage, a resonant circuit, including an inductance and a capacitance, connected to the last-named means, the circuit being resonant at the predetermined speed and being adapted to provide a voltage having an instantaneous phase shift relative to the second voltage when the alternator speed varies from the desired value, a gasfilled tube having a plate, a grid and a cathode, the grid of the tube being connected to the inductance and to the capacitance and the plate of the tube being adapted to receive the first voltage so as to produce a conduction of the tube for a period of time dependent upon the relative phase of the voltages on the grid and plate, a solenoid energized in accordance with the average flow of current through the tube, and means operative by the solenoid to oppose the rotation of the motor with a strength dependent upon the energization of the solenoid.

3. Apparatus for maintaining an alternator substantially at a predetermined speed, including, means connected to the alternator to provide a voltage having a phase opposed to the phase of the alternator voltage, a resonant circuit, including an inductance and capacitance, connected to the last-named means, the circuit being resonant at the predetermined speed and being adapted to provide a voltage having an instantaneous phase shift relative to the alternator voltage when the alternator speed varies from the desired value, a switch connected to the inductance and to the capacitance and adapted to be closed in each cycle of alternating voltage for a period of time determined by the relative phase between the alternator voltage and the voltage provided by the resonant circuit, and means associated with the switch for adjusting the speed of the alternator in accordance with the period of time in which the switch is closed.

4. Apparatus for maintaining an alternator substantially at a predetermined speed, including, a motor for driving the alternator, a field winding in the motor adapted to change the speed of the motor in accordance with variations in its excitation, an autotransformer connected to the alternator to provide a first voltage in phase with the alternator voltage and a second voltage having a phase opposed to that of the alternator voltage, a circuit, including an inductance and capacitance, resonant at a frequency corresponding to the predetermined speed and energized by the second voltage, a tube having a grid and a plate, the first voltage being applied to the plate, the inductance and the capacitance being connected to the grid to introduce a voltage having a variable phase relationship, with respect to the plate voltage, with changes in the motor speed, and means responsive to the variable phase relationship for adjusting the excitation of the field winding.

5. Apparatus for maintaining an alternator substantially at a predetermined speed, including, a motor for driving the alternator, a field winding in the motor adapted to change the speed of the motor in accordance with variations in its excitation, means connected to the alternator to provide first and second voltages of opposite phase, a resonant circuit, including an inductance and capacitance, adapted to be energized by the first voltage, the circuit being resonant at the predetermined speed, a tube having a grid and plate, the second voltage being applied to the plate, the inductance and the capacitance being connected to the grid to introduce a voltage having a variable phase relationship, relative to the plate voltage, with changes in the motor speed, and means responsive to the variable phase relationship for adjusting the excitation of the field winding.

6. Apparatus for maintaining an alternator substantially at a predetermined speed, including, a motor for driving the alternator, a field winding in the motor adapted to vary the speed of the motor in accordance with variations in its excitation, means connected to the alternator to provide first and second voltages of opposite phase, a series circuit, including an inductance and capacitance, resonant at the predetermined speed and energized by the first voltage, a gasfilled tube having a grid and a plate, the second voltage being applied to the plate, the inductance and the capacitance being connected to the grid to introduce a voltage having a variable phase relationship, relative to the plate voltage, with changes in the motor speed, and a reactance responsive to the change in the tube current resulting from the variable phase relationship, the reactance being associated with the field winding to adjust the excitation of the field winding.

'7. Apparatus for maintaining an alternator substantially at a predetermined speed, including, a motor for driving the alternator, means connected to the alternator to provide a voltage having a phase opposed to the phase of the alternator voltage, a resonant circuit, including an inductance and capacitance, connected to the lastnamed means, the circuit being resonant at the predetermined speed and being adapted to provide a voltage having an instantaneous phase shift relative to the alternator voltage when the alternator speed varies from the desired value, a solenoid energized in accordance with the relative phase shift, and means actuated by the solemid and connected to the motor for opposing the rotation of the motor with a strength dependent upon the energization of the solenoid.

8. Apparatus for maintaining an alternator substantially at a predetermined speed, including, a motor for driving the alternator, a field winding in the motor adapted to change the speed of the motor in accordance with variations in its excitation, an autotransformer connected 7 to the alternator to provide a first voltage in phase with the alternator voltage and a second voltage having a phase opposed to that of the alternator voltage, a circuit, including an inductance and capacitance, resonant at a frequency corresponding to the predetermined speed and energized by the second voltage, a tube having a grid and a plate, the first voltage being applied to the plate, the inductance and the capacitance being connected to the grid to introduce a voltage having a variable phase relationship, with respect to the plate voltage, with changes in the motor speed, and a reactance responsive to the change in the tube current resulting from the variable phase relationship and 15 Number Name Date 1,807,190 Bock et a1 May 26', 1931 1,861,550 Rea June 7, 1932 1,981,040 Gulliksen Nov. 20, 1934 2,001,557 Von Ohlsen May 14, 1935 2,067,500 Morton Jan. 12, 1937 2,521,639 Lauricella et a1 Sept. 5, 1950 2,558,572 Logan June 26, 1951 

